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Mugabe gives MDC ultimatum to sign

  1. Posted on Thursday 4 September 2008 - 15:21
    Mugadza
    The incumbent leader, Robert Mugabe has given the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) until Thursday to endorse the power sharing deal or he will have the green light to form a government.

    Speaking after his return from Zambia where he was attending the burial of the late Zambian leader Levy Mwanawas, Mugabe said if Tsvangirai fails to sign the power sharing agreement, he will certainly set a cabinet.

    Mugabe said he was empowered by the people on the June 27 presidential election run off and should form a government that will address the peoples’ problems.

    "If after tomorrow [Thursday], Tsvangirai does not want to sign, we will certainly put together a cabinet," said Mugabe in the Herald newspaper.

    "We are a government and we are government that is empowered by elections. We should form a cabinet. We would not allow a situation where we will not have a cabinet forever," he said.

    The opposition MDC has declined to be intimidated by the utterances of president and said they will not be "bullied" into signing a deal. Last week Tsvangirai revealed that its better not to sign than sign a bad deal that will jeopardizes the people.

    The SADC talks failed because of roles differences after they had agreed that Tsvangirai would be named prime minister while Mugabe remained president.

    The MDC wants Mugabe to become a ceremonial president, while the ruling Zanu-PF party insists he retain control of the security forces and the powers to appoint and dismiss ministers.

    Officially opening the 7th session of the parliament, opposition MDC legislators heckled the incumbent leader in protest over the opening of the parliament which they say was illegal.

    The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two parties revealed that no cabinet should be formed before the conclusion of the power sharing talks are concluded.

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